A special weather alert has been issued by Spain’s national weather agency, Aemet, as storm Kirk, formerly a hurricane, is expected to hit the country today (October 9). Large areas of Spain are under amber and yellow weather warnings, with the north-west region predicted to bear the brunt of the storm.

Forecasters are warning of “very strong gusts of wind” across much of the country, accompanied by heavy rainfall in the north-west. In the North Western Asturias region, winds may reach speeds of up to 120km/h.

The Cantabrian and Biscay coastlines are under amber warnings for “violent north-west wind”, with the possibility of hurricane-force gusts in the Cantabrian region, Galicia, the Pyrenees, and northern Iberia. Central Spain can expect winds of up to 80km/h.

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The north coast is expected to experience stormy conditions, with amber warnings in place, while yellow coastal warnings have been issued for the Mediterranean coastline, including the regions of Almeria, Castellon, Tarragona, and Barcelona. In the Balearic Islands, force 7 winds (60km/h) and waves of up to 3m are forecast, with yellow warnings issued for Ibiza, Majorca, and Mallorca, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Satellite imagery by NOAA shows Hurricane Kirk in the Atlantic Ocean on October 2, it's since been downgraded to a storm
Satellite imagery by NOAA shows Hurricane Kirk in the Atlantic Ocean on October 2, it’s since been downgraded to a storm (Image: AP)

Aemet’s forecast for Wednesday, October 9, stated: “Former hurricane Kirk is expected to be over the northwest of the peninsula, leaving a predominance of cloudy or overcast skies with precipitation advancing from west to east and affecting most of the Peninsula. Less abundant precipitation is expected the further east it goes, occurring weakly and occasionally in the far east and the Balearic Islands, and not expected to reach the southeastern tip of the peninsula.

“They will be more abundant, potentially becoming strong and/or persistent and with the possibility of some storms, in the Pyrenees, Cantabrian area, west of the Central System and Galicia, especially in its western half where the highest accumulations are expected”.

The forecasters also noted: “The wind will be the most significant phenomenon of the day. In the eastern Cantabrian Sea there will be a gale turning from south to northwest. It will blow strongly from the south and southwest in most of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, with a westerly wind in the Strait and Alboran, and a tendency to turn to a westerly component in the rest.”

“It is expected to reach strong and/or very strong gusts in most of the territory, less likely in the interior of the extreme southwest, and except in the northeast where it will be weak from the southeast. It will be more intense in the Cantabrian Sea, the northwest quadrant and the Pyrenees, and may reach hurricane-force gusts in parts of Galicia, the north of the Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian area, especially in its mountains. “.